Comelec junks disqualification case vs Miriam with finality

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has dismissed with finality the petition to disqualify re-electionist Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago from the May 2010 polls. In a three-page resolution promulgated Tuesday, the poll body denied the motion for reconsideration filed by lawyer Nombraan Pangcoga for lack of merit. The Comelec first division had earlier denied the lawyer's petition for the same reason. In his petition, Pangcoga said Santiago displayed symptoms of mental condition and unparliamentary behavior during her many years as a public servant. He said she should be disqualified for being guilty of graft and corruption and allegedly failing to disclose her financial and business interests. He also accused Santiago of giving “unwarranted benefits" to her relatives by having them appointed to the government. But the Comelec held that charges based on mere suspicion, conjectures, and speculation cannot be given "credence" to disqualify a candidate from running for public office. It likewise said that the reasons raised in the motion were a mere "rehash" of his previous arguments. "No new matters have been presented by petitioner strong enough to convince this Commission that there is merit in his petition," said the poll body. Santiago is running for re-election under the People’s Reform Party. She is also a guest candidate under five other parties. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV